Five Simple Ways to Prolong Roof Life

Proper care and preventative maintenance of your roof can prolong the service life past the intended term of the warranty. Here are five ways to extend the life of your roof.

Roofing Checklist:

The main job of your roof is to protect from the elements and keep water out of your building. A good roof system moves water off the roof through drains, scuppers, gutters and downspouts that are working properly and free of debris. With heavy pounding rains, substantial amounts of water can accumulate quickly on the rooftop. Excessive water on the roof may compromise and overload the building’s structure and may result in structural failure or collapse. To put this in perspective: A single gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. One inch of rain on your roof weighs about five (5) pounds per square foot! That water needs a free and easy path off the roof.

Sealant and caulking on projections and terminations minimizes water flow through cracks or holes and protects from future damage.

Debris, dirt, exhaust, kitchen or manufacturing grease or fats, ponding rainwater and other pollutants need to be removed. Regular roof cleaning and preventative maintenance can extend the life of the roof system.

The application of coatings on metal roof projections can prevent corrosion. By forming a barrier around the projections, the protective coating prevents degradation caused by pollutants, chemicals, moisture or oxidation.

Who is on your roof? Do you have HVAC workers, plumbers, electricians, satellite dish servicemen and/or other trades on your roof? Are safety measures such as walkways, walk pads, guardrails and railings in place? Are these trade workers damaging your roof membrane? Do you keep a written sign in sheet of who goes on the roof?